Speech Comm

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Today she is professional, but there is a real air of annoyance. It won't take much to really make her mad, so watch it.

301--Family Unit Continues

OK, gang, here's the deal. Today we're talking about family again, both blood and created. I want to talk about both functional and dysfunctional.

[She purses her lips together and leans forward on her lectern]

How do we communicate our feelings? Not love, not nurture, not caring...How do we as people access and communicate the real feelings of family? Possesivness? Defense? A huge part of family is feelings of ownership and belonging. How do we communicate this, and what happens when it's interrupted?

Go. Talk to me.

Comments

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*hands CJ coffee with a quick smile, before quickly taking her seat*

A lot is done by actions. When we don't know what to say, we find it easier to show our affections, or express our sorrow with flowers, or a gift.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack enters the room, deposits a vase of daffodils (http://www.enotecards.com/images/medium/daffodilsvase_MED.jpg) on CJ's desk, and takes his seat. He figures CJ will give him a high sign when it's a good time to apologize to the class in general and Lindsey in particular for going psycho last Friday.

[http://users.livejournal.com/sydney_bristow_/]

Sydney walks in and takes a seat, she looks like she hasn't slept in days and has four coffees with her.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory almost smiles at the topic as she lays a note on Professor Cregg's desk.

Please excuse my absence Friday, as I was out of town.

"I agree with Elizabeth - a lot of times, we demonstrate through actions. If we feel a sense of possessiveness towards someone, and then we're betrayed, an aggressive action may take place."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She smiles at him softly]

Chip, did you have something you wanted to say today?

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[Eyes the coffees, then Sydney's growing tummy] Hon, are you sure that's a good idea?

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

And what actions do you feel are justified when a family member has been wronged, E?

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Like what Rory? Is aggression really necessary?

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

It depends on the severity of the wrong, Professor. I, myself, would be unable to physically harm anyone, even if he or she had wronged my a member of my family. Making a fool of the person, through verbal sparring, or humiliation I would consider.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"No," Rory replies immediately. "But if someone you're close to, someone you care about - especially if there aren't many people that you trust or allow yourself to become close to - betrays you or is threatened, the basic instinctual response is to communicate your sense of anger and betrayal through action."

Rory sighs, and runs a hand through her hair.

Why does this class always line up perfectly with my life?

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

*stands up, clasps his hands, and addresses class*

I'm really, really very sorry for my behavior on Friday. It was a one-time occurance and will not be repeated.

[[Lindsey-mun's birthday is today so I don't know if he's showing up, BTW.]]

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[Before her class, CJ will have found two champagne coloured tea roses (http://www.rosebuddies.com/images/savoyhot.jpg) on her desk, with the following card:
La rose de thé dénote se rappeler. xx me]

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She blushes darker than the roses. Every time she looks at them, she breathes in deeply and closes her eyes]

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Precisely, Rory. And how does one determine the appropriate action? Let me remind you of reciprocity...[writes RECIPROCITY in big letters across the board]

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Thank you Chip. [Looks at the class] Now that matter is dropped. If anyone has a problem with it, see me.



((if lindsey isn't here today, apologize personally when he returns, kk?))

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Aha, personal morality. Bring us back to trust, E. How does retaliation help or hinder trust among family?

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it can help trust amongst a family, especially if things have been strained between the family members. It allows them to see that you do care about what happens to them, and lets your affection for them take a physical form.

Othertimes, especially if the family member in question is senior to you, it can make them doubt you and potentially consider you rash and childish.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[Smiles at her and looks...proud] Marvelous. and how does that duality of the human condition relate to power?

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Well," Rory replies thoughtfully, "I think that the appropriateness of the action is subjective. For instance," she adds, swallowing and hoping no one's really listening to her, "if someone I loved betrayed me, I would confront them personally and let them know how I had been hurt. But other people might, instead, choose to violently take out their aggressions on someone else. And both of those responses could be construed as appropriate given the personalities in question."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

And in a family, where there is a certain level of intimacy, of familiarity and acceptance, how would these different actions be accepted...even condoned, perhaps?

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Family is...well, family's really the closest relationship any group of people can have, I suppose. So therefore, the hurt goes deeper, and the response is expected to be greater."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

And with that you've reached the heart of the matter. Or should I say the matter of the heart. When we get into reciprocity on an emotional level we are dealing with an entirely different beast than that of the social-conditioned action-for-action that the book talks about. Very good, Rory.

Who else?

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*pauses and thinks*

Sorry, Professor, do you mind rephrasing that?

[absolutesnark]

Piper ponders the professor's question for a moment before attempting to answer. "One way we show our feelings toward family is by wanting to protect them. I know if anyone ever wronged one of my sisters, I would definitely confront that person. I think most people with younger siblings will do whatever is necessary to protect them."

[dbiers.livejournal.com]

D'anna enters and takes a seat far from Jack. She figures that CJ has her reasons for allowing him in class, but D isn't taking any chances. Last week was traumatizing all over the map.

"We communicate though action - touching, protecting, defending, looking out for each other; sharing tasks, resources, secrets." D'anna frowned a little and bit her lip before continuing, "Or by withholding those things. By withholding any of these... we communicate either displeasure with a 'family' or indicate that someone is not, or is no longer, a member of the family group."